Modern Paulson chip construction (1 Viewer)

[Colquhoun]

Just received my rack of current Bellagio $1s (thank you, @k9dr ) and figured I’d look at them under a 60x microscope, for kicks.
Wow, never expected all the fibers, reminds me of fiberglass or cement with fiberglass reinforcement. These chips are PACKED with these fibers, most prevalent in the edge flea bites (see below). They are even on the surface of the chip, sometimes sticking out like little hairs.

No idea they added these fibers, completely undetectable with the naked eye.

 

[cpiaaq]

Really cool, thanks for sharing! Is it the same in the edge spots?

 

[Colquhoun]

Really cool, thanks for sharing! Is it the same in the edge spots?

Loaded!

 

[Colquhoun]

I even noticed the rolling edge has lots of little burrs of trimmed (or lathed) fibers. I can imagine all these fibers make the chips collect dirt and grime far more easily than plain compressed plastic.

 

[cpiaaq]

So I checked a few chips and I think I see the same thing... but not in the quantity the Bellagio chip has. The microscope I have doesn't have as much zoom so I can't tell if that's the difference.

 

[FDLmold]

It’s tremolite! Run!!!

 

[davislane]

this is taking pr0n to another level. New official thread needs to be made. Microscope Pr0n!

 

[Colquhoun]

this is taking pr0n to another level. New official thread needs to be made. Microscope Pr0n!

Lol, I did another thread a while back...
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/a-little-fun-with-a-cheap-microscope.57179/

 

[mtl mile end]

Clearly, they have replaced the lead with asbestos.

Don't worry, these chips are still dangerous!

 

[davislane]

Lol, I did another thread a while back...
https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/a-little-fun-with-a-cheap-microscope.57179/

yeah i found that one but its all about the thread title. maybe consolidate it all in one thread and encourage others to share their microscope pron. all chippees need to some 60x-100x pr0n

 

[allforcharity]

Doesn't really surprise me. I'm sure a good portion of the raw material naturally forms polymer fibres so that it adequately holds the chip together after being compressed so that it doesn't fly or break apart after coming out of the mold.

 

[Thomacetti]

this is taking pr0n to another level. New official thread needs to be made. Microscope Pr0n!

Our German pioneer @DrJohn was doing this 10 years ago

Find a comfy chair

Index page

 

[davislane]

Our German pioneer @DrJohn was doing this 10 years ago

Find a comfy chair

Index page

already have. really enjoyable.

 

[CrazyEddie]

Interesting, and very cool!

In the early days of making plastic objects, people would mix all kinds of things into the composite (they called it a "composition" back then), including fibrous materials like cotton and wood, in an effort to create something that had the specific properties they were looking for. I'm sure that's still true today. I wonder what those fibers are?

 

[Colquhoun]

I’m sue the fibers are added for strength and durability. With that in mind, it makes sense that the blue would have more fibers, as the Paulson blue chips are notoriously softer than other colors.
I found more info here:
Wikipedia - Fiber Reinforced Plastic

 

[upNdown]

as the Paulson blue chips are notoriously softer than other colors.

really? i guess i missed the memo

 

[BGinGA]

really? i guess i missed the memo

Darker blues, specifically -- lots of color transfer issues. Why might that be?

 

[upNdown]

Darker blues, specifically -- lots of color transfer issues. Why might that be?

No idea. I'm no chemist. I just can't recall ever reading that blues were softer.

 

[BirdCage]

Fibers are light weight. Perhaps connection between chip weight and % fiber use. My live Golden Nugget LV blue $1’s are on the light end of the scale at about 8.5 grams. Could explain why some new chips still weigh close to 10 grams, i.e. Mirage $1’s.

How much do the Bellagio $1’s weigh?